TEDx talk: “The global grid for empowering renewable energy”

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2 responses to “TEDx talk: “The global grid for empowering renewable energy””

1. 

   Lucas Henderieckx

   3 November 2015

   I think you’re absolutely right professor that we need more interconnections between power grids as energy storage of sufficient size will remain far too expensive at least for a few decades to come. As for wind and sun east-west connections are the most valuable, as the time shift spreads the energy peak demands over time. There are a few other useful possibilities however, that are easier and less costly to develop and roll out: first try to organise electricity usage by steering energy consumption with smart grid/smart meter technologies. Theoretically one can vary the cost of electricity hour by hour so that consumers will shift usage of some appliances like refrigerators, linen dryers, washing machines, hot water boilers, EV’s, air conditioners and so on to avoid expensive tariff periods. As you mentioned in your presentation, one should install the expensive renewable energy generators, PV’s and wind turbines, in area’s where there is far more wind and sun available during far more hours per year. I always say to owners of PV-panels that if they care for the environment they should move their panels south to regions where the sun shines almost every day, like the Sahara or so. It doesn’t matter where the electricity produced is consumed, the global climate will benefit at least twice as much compared to a northern setup. And if you want, the electricity produced can be transported via HV-interconnections across the mediteranian sea to Europe, part of a global grid so to speak. A few years ago, when I was still working on smart meters at Eandis, there were talks about a super-grid in Europe to interconnect all the interconnection grids of countries close to the north sea and the mediteranian sea. What happened to this idea ? Of course, this would mainly be a north-south connection, which is less useful than east-west connections.

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2. 

   Michel Pauly

   10 March 2017

   I agree but do not forget that electricity tends to go to the closest consumption demand. Redirecting it following thé actual social and economical demands is à réal challenge. Especially in an international environment. Today thé use of phase shifter transformators is à costly but effective solution except if two of these in two countries cancel each other effects for national grid management reasons. We are years away from an intelligent international grid management ! !!!

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